Lionel Messi pumped his arms in triumph, the trophy bouncing up and down in his grasp. Just an hour earlier, tears of frustration had streamed down his face, but now, as a two-time Copa America champion and World Cup winner, he shared laughs and hugs with his teammates.
Messi had to sit out much of the second half and extra time due to a leg injury. Yet, Argentina still clinched their second consecutive Copa America title, defeating Colombia 1-0 with Lautaro Martínez’s decisive goal in the 112th minute.
“Leo is the greatest player in history,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter to the Associated Press. “He never wants to leave the pitch. He has a swollen ankle and wants to keep playing. I prefer those players. He wants to play not because he is egotistical or selfish. He wants to keep playing because he doesn’t want to leave his teammates. ... He was born to be on the pitch.”
Messi's injury appeared to be non-contact, occurring in the 64th minute as he was running. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner covered his face with his hands as he sat on the bench, visibly distraught. But as Martínez scored the winning goal, he ran to the bench to embrace his 37-year-old captain, a gesture of camaraderie and victory.
After the final whistle sounded well past midnight, Messi, limping slightly, called for his senior teammates, 36-year-old Nicolás Otamendi and Ángel Di María, to join him in lifting the trophy. As white confetti rained down, the trio shared a heartfelt hug.
“The truth is, it’s hard to describe,” Di María said. “It was written like that. I told the guys last night at dinner that I dreamt it. That’s why I said it was my last Copa America. I dreamt we made it to the final and we won it so I could go out this way. I’ll be always grateful to this generation who gave me everything, helped me win what I always wanted and today, I am leaving like this.” Di María added. “It could not be better.”
The match started 1 hour and 22 minutes late due to crowd issues at Hard Rock Stadium, but Argentina's victory marks their third consecutive major title, following the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. They also ended Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak, which dated back to a February 2022 World Cup qualifier.
Martínez's goal came after he entered the game in the 97th minute. A perfect pass from Giovani Lo Celso set him up, following a crucial tackle by Leandro Paredes. Martínez sprinted past defender Carlos Cuesta and struck a right-footed shot through the arms of Colombia’s sliding goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, notching his 29th international goal and fifth of the tournament.
Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo noted the physical toll on his players, with many experiencing severe cramping in the upper 80s heat and 73% humidity.
“It is not easy to play a final. It’s not easy for anyone,” Lorenzo said through an interpreter. “They played six matches in 21 days and started feeling the results. They all left feeling cramps, some of them in both legs. They all left the pitch feeling the wear down and the tiredness.”
Messi, making his 39th and possibly last Copa America appearance, managed one goal in the tournament. Despite his injury in the second half, he stood by the bench, cheering his team on.
The game was delayed from 8 p.m. EDT to 9:22 p.m. due to crowd control issues, with fans breaching security gates at the stadium. Hard Rock Stadium later released a statement emphasizing their commitment to safety and addressing concerns of disappointed ticket holders.
Despite Colombia's aggressive play and Argentina's initial struggles, the match turned in favor of the Albiceleste, with Nicolás Tagliafico’s offside goal and Nicolás González’s late attempt being key moments.
The second half saw players losing footing due to heavily watered grass following a halftime performance by Colombian pop star Shakira, extending the break to around 25 minutes.
Colombia's James Rodríguez was selected as the tournament's best player, with six assists, but it was Argentina who emerged victorious, solidifying their legacy in Copa America history.
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